Divinity: Immolation: Book Three (The Divinity Saga) (34 page)

It was neat and clean and the bed was made perfectly but I could already tell that it wasn’t mine. There were a few photos of that guy and China all along the dresser— and disturbingly, the negative energy was the strongest in here. I carefully panned every corner, checking the closet, and even underneath the bed for anything but there was nothing here now.

I paused before taking a deep breath and venturing across the living room to the other room with the closed door, my room. I stopped and eyed the coffee table for some reason. I found myself staring at it for a few moments, expecting an instant barrage of memories to come floodin
g through…but nothing happened.

Strange.

I finally stood at my bedroom door and slowly opened it. It was dim and warm, being that the blinds were half closed and it was gray and snowing outside. I flipped on the light and proceeded to step cautiously inside.

I took my time gazing at everything from my dresser, to my bed and comforter, to the television, curtains, and
all of the pictures and posters adorning my walls. There were University of Indianapolis at Bloomington collegiate memorabilia scattered about, from lanyards, sweatpants, shirts, and a few cream and crimson colored pennants with the word, ‘Hoosiers’ in red lettering on it.

It was quiet in here with the exception of the steady humming of the heating system in the background. I began to hear a few voices drifting in from several directions, which made me feel a small sense of relief. I turned the television on, wanting to catch up on the events of the world today, and find out exactly what day and time it was right now. I set the card from Joel on my dresser, finding the remote next to a jewelry box, and clicked on the television.

The sound was comforting. I flipped through a few channels until I found a local station. Then I spied my closet and immediately began to raid it, going through all of my clothes, photos, backpack, and shoes…most of which I planned to pack inside the suitcases and take with me.

My cell phone began to chime and I p
ulled it out of my coat pocket.

It was China.

Perfect timing.

Well, so much for waiting before telling her that I was back, might as well get it over wi
th now. Besides, it would take her a few hours to drive back even if she did decide to come home right now, which I highly doubted that she would leave the rest of her family right before Christmas just for me— best friend or not.

“Hey.” I answered first.

“What up girlfriend or shall I say mom to be. How are you?”

I smiled. “Great, ho
w about you?”

“Eh, family drama…same as every year. They were all wondering why you didn’t come with me this year though, and I had to explain to them that you’re having an extreme case of random psychosis but you needed to connect with family you’ve never met. So, it’s two days before Christmas and I thought I’d call for a status update — although if you haven’t caught a flight yet…you’re not gonna make it and I’m am going to be severely upset if that’s the case.”

“Well, I don’t want you to be upset so…I’m giving you part of my Christmas present now.”

She giggled. “Oh really? And what is it? An e-gift card?”

I laughed. “No. I’m home. Merry Christmas.”

I heard her gasp and she paused.

“You’d better not be me
ssing with me about that, Star! Are you serious?” her voice went up an octave with excitement.

“I would not lie to you about that. I’m standing in my room right now as we speak.”

China squealed long and loud. I had to hold my cell phone away from my ear for the duration.

“I’m there! I can cut the four hour drive by half so you’d better
not disappear on me again!” She warned.

“I won’t. Don’t speed and rush though, it’s snowing right now.” I certainly hoped
I’d be able to keep my word.

“Please, I could care less about the snow, you know that I’m used to it. This is going to be the best Christmas yet! I will see you in a few hours!”

“Okay. I’ll see you when you get here.” I clicked off.

Now, to go through everything, including watching the news so that this would not turn into a disaster after all.

XXXIX: Ca`mael

G
race was lounging in one of the parlor rooms, smoking on a hookah pipe. A human slave was on all fours, serving as a table with a bowl of fruit on his back next to her. A gag was strapped across his mouth and there was a blank, submissive far away stare in his eyes. A few books, with one lying face down and open as if she’d taken a break from reading it, littered the table in front of her.

That large scorpion was perched on the back rest portion of the chaise lounging chair, next to her head. It appeared to be nibbling on a slice of apple.
I was pretty sure that there was a male human soul inside of that scorpion she had made her close pet.

She didn’t seemed surprised to see me but she was almost fearful when she saw Aliks. She immediately sat up straight and her eyes bulged.

“Relax, we’re not here for anything more but your help.” I assured her.

She looked confused. “My help? I thought you were looking for something else. I was waiting for you.” She told me but kept her eyes on Aliks.

I didn’t doubt that she probably was waiting for me. She was wearing a veil thin slinky skirt fringed with gold beads that hung low on her slim waist, and a top that looked like two scarves crisscrossed over each of her voluptuous, tanned breasts just to cover the nipples.

Under normal circumstances, I’d have been all over and in that…the way I normally do it, not physically
, but I wasn’t feeling any of it. The current situation and my love for Starling suppressed all of my dark lust and sinful desires. What I had and felt was derived from the purest form of love, and it was because of Starling and reserved only for her.

“He’s not here to judge, spy, or condemn. He’s assisting me.” I added to explain Aliks’ presence.

She looked confounded probably because Aliks was with me at all let alone assisting me with anything.

“I don’t understand. What do you need my help with then?” She asked, waving away someone that we didn’t notice outright, though we did feel their signatures camouflaged in the darkened corners.

Two bandits grunted as they lumbered and shuffled out of the parlor, making extremely wide and cautionary berths around us to get out, and quickly closed the door behind them.

“Well, I don’t know what Angels eat but I have some fresh fruit.” Grace waved a hand over her human table.

Her green eyes glowed softly, she was absolutely fascinated with Aliks from what I was picking up from her but definitely nervous. Maybe it was from the memory of having been an angel too. Psyrens were formerly of the lower Demisiph or seraph classes of servile angels.

They all used to be guardian angels.

No wonder they were so smitten with the fallen yet they feared us at the same time. That was something I’d forgotten myself until just now. So to her, Aliks, even as dainty as he appeared to me, was an absolute stud.

They had been damned for having begun consorting with dark beings. When she waved her hand and the bandits immediately obeyed, it had me thinking. Though I knew it was obvious how the Psyrens, being sexy females
, could hold power over the male goons, they in turn seemed readily obedient and protective of them…like children.

I’ll be damned.

Elohim was having us partner up with all the races of former angels for this war with Morning Star and those in his legion. No wonder the Psyrens didn’t like nor care for the Succubus’. They were former lower level angels too but that didn’t mean they couldn’t choose the side of good and light either. We all could. The option and choice was never taken away from us despite being condemned and fallen. So, would an alliance with the Succubus’ be the next request? That could get very ugly.

His plan was beyond clever and sneaky
, and something that would never happen on its own if left up to us individually. The possibility and option to even try never dawned on me once.

The tricky part though, would be to get everyone to cooperate and work together but if Elohim didn’t think it was possible, possible for everyone to remember what they used to be…then he wouldn’t have made the request.

“No thank you.” Aliks politely declined.

“Then please, have a seat and make yourselves at home.” She
then pointed to the two plush chairs right behind us.

“I’ll make this quick and short because we’re actually in a hurry.” I began.

Grace cocked her head and looked at me, awaiting what I wanted from her. She played innocent very well.

“There’s a warrior scout that’s gone missing. Her spirit was supposedly last seen at the site of the hall shortly after the explosion.”

She cut me off and folded her arms across her chest looking offended, “You think I or someone here claimed her?”

“I don’t know, that’s why I’m asking.”

Her eyes shifted from me to Aliks and then she harrumphed and sat back down.

“Say that we did have her, what is she worth?” She then asked smugly.

“Don’t put a price on her, Grace. This is very important. We can’t afford to be at odds with each other. This is about survival of the end, for all of us.” I told her in all seriousness.

She appeared thoughtful to my plea.

“I don’t have her nor have I seen her. I can ask around but none of us have gone on any runs since the explosion. It’s very risqué right now. Many of Morning Star’s army is roaming around and I wouldn’t doubt that he probably does have her. If that’s the case, I’m sorry. You’re more than likely not going to get her back at all, ever.”

I sighed and looked over at Aliks. He nodded slightly.

Grace was telling the truth.

“Have you thought about my offer and what we talked about earlier?” She then asked me.

“I can’t do it.” I flatly replied.

She studied me with surprise and then disappointment.

“Then I don’t know what you’re needing or expecting from me. I can’t retrieve the girl.”

“You can make a trade.”

“Of what? Who?” She looked at me incredulously.

I had to think of something. This wouldn’t be as important to me if the girl wasn’t a warrior. Before further possibly humiliating myself, Aliks had to go.

He had served his purpose for me.

“The next time I see you, you had better have a fully, deciphered text for me. That seraphim is still missing, so if you know where he might be, let me know. And thanks.”
I told him.

“You’re welcome. I’ll keep an eye out but there are no guarantees. I surmise that I should be close to finishing and gaining permission once we’ve all met about it…pending you quit summoning me for every little thing.”
He replied sharply before swiftly ghosting out in a beam of bright light that quickly winked out after his departure.

“You keep interesting company. I had no idea that was allowed.” Grace then commented, turning on the seductive charm now that we were alone.

“You’d be surprised what things are allowed once you stop associating with Morning Star.”

She appeared to be thinking about that statement and then she slowly sashayed towards me, her hips swaying enticingly as she began to assess me from head to toe with a flick of her tongue over her lips.

“I don’t
associate
with him. We do business. It’s nothing more than money and survival.”

I looked down at her, “And I told you, it is…for now.”

She ran a finger down my chest and smirked, “Now, with you on the other hand…”

I tensed and exhaled slowly at her touch on my bare chest.

She stepped back and unclipped the back of her top, letting it fall gently and cascade around her waist.

Her nipples looked painted on, dusted in light pink glitter. Interesting.

“I’m not asking for anything you can’t do or aren’t known for,” She smiled with a devious flash in her neon green eyes.

“I’d be more willing to help…” She said leaning in and brushing her lips against my chest. Her tongue flicked out softly, instantly stimulating a hint of arousal but not enough for me to want to react.

“Don’t.” I gently pushed her away from me.

Ego bruised, she was definitely hurt. Looking deeply into my eyes, she bit her lip as if trying to keep herself from either saying something ugly…or maybe even shedding a tear. Accepting the fact that she had just been turned down by a fallen,
an Incubus, she stepped away from me with a slight smirk.

“Wow. I get it now. The human warrior girl w
ho’s pregnant with your child. You love her too.” She stated more so than asked.

I didn’t say anything, not that it wasn’t true but she took my silence as an affirmation.

She laughed softly. “You’re right, Cam`ael. I’ve seen and heard of many strange things but seeing you walking side by side with an angel in peace, and your love for a human…warrior who carries your child…leaves me utterly speechless. I don’t understand any of it. Why? Why now?” She was truly befuddled.

I think I got her suspicious
inquiry. She was right though. These things were never known because it was assumed that it was not supposed to be. That we were all forever doomed to live one way and be one thing, just because of one mistake. I know because it was exactly my mindset until I was granted permission to actually meet and be with Starling, even though she was a chosen.

“What does it matter? I don’t know if you rememb
er but this is how we used to exist. We are what we create, be it of light or darkness and the darkness is only dark when it is used for that purpose. You know that.”

I was adamant that I was getting through to her, she was definitely thinking about my words.

She pulled her top back up, adjusting the sheer strips back over her breasts and then moved to sit back down, silent at first.

“What do you want from us? We have no power or influence.” She then said.

“Alone, you and your kin may have not have as much.”

If this what Elohim wanted for me to do in order to gain the Psyrens as an ally, then I believe that I finally understood.

There was a long pregnant pause before Grace finally met my eyes and spoke, “I think I know who may have this warrior scout.”

I raised a brow.

She then rose, “Give me a moment to prepare myself for possible battle and gather a few bandits to ride with us.”

A sudden, thunderous cacophony of high pitched screeching and cawing came from every side of the mansion.

Shouts, cries and screams could be heard throughout the house and from outside.

Then, there was massive cawing. Crows.

I could only think of one demon associated with those birds. I wielded my sword and Grace looked at me with alarm and confusion.

“Stay put. This one is dangerous.” I told her.

“Something’s attacking my cit
y! I’m not going to sit idly by!” She said, bursting through the doors of the parlor, and dashing through the chaos that began to ensue throughout the mansion, and swiftly up to her room.

By the time she suited up, it could be too late. Though I was apprehensive about taking on Xyn myself, I knew that I was the only one who could do it right now. Why was he here? Did he follow me? What the hell did he want with the Psyrens?

I began to pull light forth, forming it into a sphere as I ghosted out and onto the roof of the mansion to get a better look.

It was like a mad tornado of black, screaming birds swarming over, dive-bombing city dwellers
, and taking them down in large groups. Several Psyren warrior women had already mounted their war Chimeras, and the lion heads were roaring, blowing streams of fire from their mouths.

They all began to converge on the many crows that made up Xyn. They were screeching and cawing madly as they were being roasted alive in mid-air. The smell of chicken meat and dank, burnt feathers began to permeate the air in a vaporous haze of red and black smoke.

I thought that might have been enough but it only enraged him. All of the crows began to glow, red with fury and moving in together to form a massive homing missile that arced beneath one Chimera. The group of crows literally lanced through its plated underbelly like a razor tipped torpedo with ease. The war beast growled and howled in pain as its belly was torn open and eviscerated. It spun wildly, slamming down to the ground with a loud thud, which finished it off completely.

“Xyn!” I called for his attention to break him from them.

I wasn’t sure he had heard me, until the birds began to swarm in together to form a funnel, twisting down into a single, robed form that began to levitate until it was level with me, finally.

It was apprehensive, eyeing the sphere of light in my hand. I couldn’t afford to miss. He’d just disperse and dodge my light attack anyway.

I wasn’t going to go down without giving it all I had. I had way too much to live for.

Though I didn’t want to risk any of them, I needed at least three of my best figh
ters for a distraction to help me out but they were helping to protect Starling.